Time to admit mistakes

To the editor:

In sports, when the umpire makes mistakes, even though the game cannot be played again, the players appreciate if he admits the mistake and vows to try to avoid future such errors. Those who refuse to acknowledge their mistakes are bound to repeat them if the same conditions arise.

We ask the same of politicians. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the U.S. did not invade Mexico, Thailand or Indonesia. We recognized Japan as the adversary. When al-Qaida attacked the United States, George Bush engaged in a brief foray into Afghanistan terminated when we let Osama bin Laden escape from the caves of Tora Bora, then he invaded the uninvolved sovereign nation of Iraq, using 9-11 as the excuse and a pack of lies and distortions to justify it. He was told at the beginning that Iraq was not responsible, but he invaded anyway , costing over 1,000 American lives..

The failure of Bush to recognize this mistake tells us he might again concoct a pack of lies to try to persuade us and the world that military action is necessary when it is not. He might again send our military friends and families to fight and die in an unjustified war.

John Kerry, on the other hand, recognizes the folly that is the Bush Iraq War, has a plan to solve it and -- unlike Bush or Cheney, having fought himself -- is unlikely ever to send our troops into harm's way without just cause.

JUSTIN C. HEAD, Cape Girardeau